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List of gay anthems

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File:Geri Halliwell attends New Year's Eve Party.jpg
Geri Halliwell's "Mi Chico Latino", "Bag It Up", "It's Raining Men" and "Ride It" are classic gay anthems.

A gay anthem is a popular song that has become widely popular among, or has become identified with, the gay community, particularly gay men, although some of these songs may also become anthems for the rest of the LGBT community. Multiple top-charting popular songs, such as "I Think I'm in Love with You" by Jessica Simpson, "The Boys are Back in Town", "True Colors" by Cindy Lauper, "For Once in My Life" by Mel B, "Mi Chico Latino", "It's Raining Men" and "Ride It" by Geri Halliwell, "I Kissed a Girl" by Katy Perry, "Raise Your Glass" by Pink and "We R Who We R" by Kesha have become a "refuge of unambiguous support for gay rights".[1] Not all songs labelled as "gay anthems" were written with that purpose, but they are included in this subgenre of popular music if they have become particularly popular among the gay community.

The lyrics of gay anthems are often marked by themes of perseverance, inner strength, acceptance, pride, and unity.[2] Ten elements were identified by the editors of the 2002 book Queer, which they claim describe themes common to many gay anthems: "big voiced divas; themes of overcoming hardship in love; "you are not alone;" themes of throwing your cares away (to party); hard won self-esteem; unashamed sexuality; the search for acceptance; torch songs for the world-weary; the theme of love conquers all; and of making no apologies for who you are."[2]

According to Popular Music, a music journal, the song most commonly identified as a gay anthem is "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor.[3] The song is described as "a classic emblem of gay culture in the post-Stonewall and AIDS eras and arguably disco's greatest anthem." UK LGBT rights charity Stonewall named Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful" the most empowering song of the 2000s decade for LGBT people,[4] and Elton John predicted it would replace "I Will Survive" as the pre-eminent gay anthem.[2]

Village People's "Y.M.C.A.",[5] The Weather Girls's "It's Raining Men",[6][7] Diana Ross' "I'm Coming Out" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough",[8] ABBA's "Dancing Queen" are classic gay anthems.[2]

Mariah Carey's "Hero", Ultra Naté's "Free", Janet Jackson's "Together Again", Cher's "Believe", Jessica Simpson's "I Think I'm in Love with You" and "A Public Affair", Kylie Minogue's "Spinning Around" and "Can't Get You Out of My Head", Geri Halliwell's "It's Raining Men" and "Ride It", Dannii Minogue's "I Begin to Wonder", Melanie C's "Never Be the Same Again" and "Think About It", Tamar Braxton's "Hot Sugar" and "My Man", Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" and Ariana Grande's "Break Free" are considered as gay anthems for the new generation.[2]

Famous soundtracks as "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston from The Bodyguard, "There You'll Be" by Faith Hill from Pearl Harbor, "Can't Fight the Moonlight" by LeAnn Rimes from Coyote Ugly, "It's Raining Men" by Geri Halliwell from Bridget Jones's Diary, "Lady Marmalade" by Christina Aguilera, Mýa, Lil' Kim and Pink from Moulin Rouge! and "We Can" by LeAnn Rimes from Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde are beloved by gay community and are considered as gay anthems.[2]

The main single of I Turn to You by Melanie C, which became a gay anthem, was released as the "Hex Hector Radio Mix", for which Hex Hector won the 2001 Grammy as Remixer of the Year.[9]

Themes

Melanie Brown was shown kissing another woman in her "For Once in My Life" video, making this song a hymn of the gay community.

Although every song is individual, the criteria for what makes a gay anthem has shown a trend among the years. In the book Queer, the following ten main themes were listed that are common among many, if not all gay anthems:[6]

Tamar Braxton's "Hot Sugar", "If I Don't Have You" and "My Man" are gay anthems.
  • Big-voiced divas
Rather than particular songs, this area of gay anthems is more akin to a cult of personality of a large gay male following for some particular diva-style pop music vocalists who are almost always female gay icons. Modern examples include Cher, Cyndi Lauper, Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Céline Dion, Kylie Minogue, Madonna, Barbra Streisand, Donna Summer, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, Ariana Grande, Geri Halliwell, Selena Gomez, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Tamar Braxton.
  • Overcoming hardship in love
Usually a narrative of a wronged lover who comes back stronger than before.
  • You are not alone
Songs about coming together as a community or reassurance to the lonely that there are others like them out there.
  • Throw your cares away
A carefree narrative about putting your troubles aside and partying.
  • Hard-won self-esteem
Here, the theme involves fighting through oppression, darkness or fear to gain freedom, beauty or self-esteem.
  • Celebrating unashamed sexuality
The theme here is of transcending cultural shame to celebrate one's sexual nature.
  • Search for acceptance
Songs about a welcoming promised land where the dream of acceptance and belonging and hope lives.
  • Torch song for the world weary
A narrative about being used, abused and surviving to tell the tale of lament.
  • Love conquers all
Tales of not giving up on love despite seemingly insurmountable odds.
  • No apologies
Here, the theme revolves around defiantly living one's life despite what others may want.

List of historically significant gay anthem songs

Year Released Song Title Artist(s) Gay anthem reference
1920 "The Lavender Song (Das Lila Lied)" Lyrics by Kurt Schwabach [10]
1939 "Over the Rainbow" Judy Garland [11][7]
1954 "The Man That Got Away" [12]
1957 "Somewhere (There's a Place for Us)" From the musical West Side Story [6][7]
1960 "As Long as He Needs Me" Shirley Bassey [6][7]
1966 "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" Dusty Springfield [6]
1970 "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" Diana Ross [6]
1972 "All the Young Dudes" Mott the Hoople [13]
1975 "Sweet Transvestite" Tim Curry from the Motion Picture The Rocky Horror Picture Show [14]
"I Was Born This Way" Valentino [15]
1976 "Dancing Queen" ABBA [6][7]
"Turn the Beat Around" Vicki Sue Robinson [6]
1977 "I Feel Love" Donna Summer [16]
1978 "I Will Survive" Gloria Gaynor [7][17][18]
"Glad to Be Gay" Tom Robinson Band [19]
"You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" Sylvester [7]
"Macho Man" Village People [20]
"Y.M.C.A." [21]
1979 "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) ABBA [7]
"Boys Keep Swinging" David Bowie [7]
"We Are Family" Sister Sledge [22]
"No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" Donna Summer & Barbra Streisand [6]
"Go West" Village People [7]
1980 "I'm Coming Out" Diana Ross [7][23]
1982 "I've Never Been to Me" Charlene [14]
"Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" Culture Club [7]
"And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" Jennifer Holliday [6]
"It's Raining Men" The Weather Girls [6][7]
1983 "So Many Men, So Little Time" Miquel Brown [6][7]
"I Am What I Am" From the musical La Cage aux Folles [7][24]
"Holiday" Madonna [6]
1984 "Smalltown Boy" Bronski Beat [6]
"Why?" [25]
"You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" Dead or Alive [14]
"I Want to Break Free" Queen [14]
1985 "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin [6]
1986 Don't Leave Me This Way" The Communards [26][27]
"True Colors" Cyndi Lauper [28][29]
1987 "Boom Boom (Let's Go Back to My Room)" Paul Lekakis [14]
"Express Yourself" Madonna [14]
1988 "A Little Respect" Erasure [6]
1989 "I Want That Man" Deborah Harry [14]
"Closer to Fine" Indigo Girls [30]
1990 "Vogue" Madonna [7]
1991 "Finally" CeCe Peniston [6]
1992 "Constant Craving" k.d. lang [14]
"Supermodel (You Better Work)" RuPaul [14]
"I Will Always Love You" (theme from the movie The Bodyguard) Whitney Houston [14]
1993 "Come to My Window" Melissa Etheridge [30]
"Yes I Am" [30]
"This Is It" Dannii Minogue [14]
"I'm Every Woman" (theme from the movie The Bodyguard) Whitney Houston [14]
"Hero" Mariah Carey [31]
1994 "Put Yourself in My Place" Kylie Minogue [14]
1995 "I Kissed a Girl" Jill Sobule [32]
1997 "Young Hearts Run Free" Kym Mazelle [14]
"Free" Ultra Naté [6]
"Together Again" Janet Jackson [6]
"Outside" Mariah Carey [31]
1998 "Outside" George Michael [7]
"Believe" Cher [33]
1999 "Strong Enough" Cher [14]
"New York City Boy" Pet Shop Boys [14]
"Mi Chico Latino" Geri Halliwell [14]
"It's Not Right, But It's Okay" Whitney Houston [14]
2000 "Proud" Heather Small [14]
"Bag It Up" Geri Halliwell [14]
"I Think I'm in Love with You" Jessica Simpson [14]
"Never Be the Same Again" Melanie C [14]
"I Turn to You" Melanie C [14]
"Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" Mariah Carey [34]
"How Many Licks?" Lil' Kim featuring Sisqó [14]
"Can't Fight the Moonlight" (theme from the movie Coyote Ugly) LeAnn Rimes [14]
"Spinning Around" Kylie Minogue [14]
2001 "Your Disco Needs You" Kylie Minogue [7]
"Can't Get You Out of My Head" [35]
"It's Raining Men" (theme from the movie Bridget Jones's Diary) Geri Halliwell [6][7]
"Murder on the Dancefloor" Sophie Ellis-Bextor [36]
"Lady Marmalade" (theme from the movie Moulin Rouge!) Christina Aguilera, Mýa, Lil' Kim and Pink [6][7]
"There You'll Be" (theme from the movie Pearl Harbor) Faith Hill [6][7]
2002 "Beautiful" Christina Aguilera [37][38][39][40]
"Shined on Me" Praise Cats [6][7]
"Dove (I'll Be Loving You)" Moony [6][7]
2003 "Defying Gravity" Introduced by Idina Menzel, from the musical Wicked [41]
"I Begin to Wonder" Dannii Minogue [42]
"Don't Mess with My Man" Nivea [42]
"We Can" (theme from the movie Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde) LeAnn Rimes [7]
2004 "Take Your Mama" Scissor Sisters [7]
2005 "Ride It" Geri Halliwell [42]
2006 "A Public Affair" Jessica Simpson [42]
"I Belong to Me" Jessica Simpson [7]
"Nothing in This World" Paris Hilton [7]
2009 "Fuck You" Lily Allen [43]
"Bad Romance" Lady Gaga [44]
2010 "Firework" Katy Perry
2011 "Born This Way" Lady Gaga [45]
"Think About It" Melanie C [7]
2012 "Same Love" Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Mary Lambert [46]
"Party or Go Home" Trina Braxton [7]
2013 "For Once in My Life" Melanie Brown [47][48][49][50]
"Hot Sugar" Tamar Braxton [51][better source needed]
"Woman's World" Cher [7]
"Limpido" Laura Pausini and Kylie Minogue [7]
2014 "Break Free" Ariana Grande [52]
"Born An Angel" Afida Turner [53][54]
"Fancy" Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX [7]
"Sledgehammer" Fifth Harmony [7]
"Let Me Know" Tamar Braxton [51]
2015 "If I Don't Have You" Tamar Braxton [51]
"The Way We Are" Alesha Dixon [7]
2016 "Secret Love Song (song)" Little Mix featuring Jason Derulo [55]
2017 "My Man" Tamar Braxton [51]
"Angels In Chains" Geri Halliwell [7]
"Heart Attack" Chuu [7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Hawgood, Alex (November 5, 2010). "For Gays, New Songs of Survival". New York Times. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Casserly, Meghan (February 11, 2011). "Lady Gaga's Born This Way: Gay Anthems and Girl Power". Forbes. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  3. ^ Hubbs, Nadine (May 2007). "'I Will Survive': musical mappings of queer social space in a disco anthem". Popular Music. 26 (2): 231–244. doi:10.1017/s0261143007001250.
  4. ^ "Media: Current Releases". stonewall.org.uk. Archived from the original on September 16, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Jeff Perlman. ""Y.M.C.A." (An Oral History)". Spin magazine. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "Queer". pp. 26–7. ISBN 1-56025-377-0. Retrieved April 26, 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj "The pink hit parade: Sing if you're glad to be gay". The Independent. London. November 1, 2006. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
  8. ^ "25 Essential LGBTQ Pride Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  9. ^ Boucher, Geoff (January 4, 2001). "Grammys Cast a Wider Net Than Usual". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. p. 13. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
  10. ^ Sarah Lippek. "Disrupted Values, Erupting Culture: Cabaret and the Sexual Persona in Weimar Berlin". Social Science Research Network. p. 13. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
  11. ^ Richard Dyer. "Judy Garland and Gay Men". Queer Cinema ed. Harry M Benshoff and Sean Griffin. p. 162. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
  12. ^ Michael Bronski. Culture Clash: The Making of Gay Sensibility. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
  13. ^ "All The Young Dudes". davidbowienews.wordpress.com. July 26, 2012.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "And the Gayest Songs Of All Time Are..." samesame.com.au. March 7, 2008. Archived from the original on May 12, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ "Valentino...he was born that way...so was Carl Bean". QMH. June 2002.
  16. ^ Benjamin Genocchio (February 19, 2006). "Exploring the Effects of Disco's Beat" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
  17. ^ Elizabeth Kaminski and Verta Taylor. "We're Not Just Lip-synching Here: Music and Collective Identity in Drag Performances". Identity Work in Social Movements, p. 58. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
  18. ^ Nadine Hubbs. "'I Will Survive': musical mappings of queer social space in a disco anthem". Popular Music, 26 , pp 231-244. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
  19. ^ Peter Tatchell. "Not Glad to Be Gay?" Archived 2011-06-16 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ Tris McCall (August 23, 2013). "Macho, macho men: The Village People are back, and they're bringing the '70s with them". New Jersey On-Line.
  21. ^ Jeff Perlman. ""Y.M.C.A." (An Oral History)". Spin magazine. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
  22. ^ Sasha Roseneil. "Queer Frameworks and Queer Tendencies: Towards an Understanding of Postmodern Transformations of Sexuality". Sociological Research Online, vol. 5, no. 3. Retrieved April 26, 2009.(subscription required)
  23. ^ Andrew Dawson. "The mining community and the ageing body". Realizing community Ed. By Vered Amit, European Association of Social Anthropologists. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
  24. ^ Verta Taylor and Leila J. Rupp. "When the Girls Are Men: Negotiating Gender and Sexual Dynamics in a Study of Drag Queens". Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society 2005, vol. 30, no. 4. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
  25. ^ "Looking forward to..." www.facebook.com. July 3, 2012. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  26. ^ "THE COMMUNARDS – "Don't Leave Me This Way"". freakytrigger.co.uk. January 5, 2010. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  27. ^ "Guilty pleasures". madcap156.wordpress.com. May 15, 2010. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  28. ^ "Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles -anti-bullying music video". Performing Arts Live. May 24, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  29. ^ "Pink, Katy Perry and Ke$ha songs all angle to become gay anthems, but will they?". Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved July 19, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ a b c "Top Lesbian Songs". TopGaySongs.com. 2013.
  31. ^ a b "11 Mariah Carey songs every gay boy needs in his life". The Gay UK. May 13, 2017.
  32. ^ Stephen Elliott (July 30, 2009). "The Rumpus Interview with Jill Sobule". The Rumpus.
  33. ^ "The 50 best gay songs to celebrate Gay Pride!". TimeOut. May 24, 2018. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  34. ^ "40 top gay anthems for Pride". The Gay UK. May 13, 2017.
  35. ^ Llewellyn, Caspar (November 2, 2006). "Reveal your gay anthems to the world | Music | guardian.co.uk". London: Guardian. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
  36. ^ "Murder on the dance floor: a quick tango with Sophie Ellis-Bextor". The Standard. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  37. ^ Hawgood, Alex (November 5, 2010). "Ke$ha and Katy Perry Sing for Gay Rights". The New York Times.
  38. ^ "Christina Aguilera tops 'empowering' song poll". digitalspy.co.uk. April 7, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  39. ^ Savage, Dan (April 2, 2011). "It Gets Better: Columbus Gay Men's Chorus and Columbus Children's Choir". slog.thestranger.com. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  40. ^ Siegel, Joe. "State House Vigil held in wake of Gay Suicides" Archived 2013-12-24 at the Wayback Machine The Rainbow Times. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  41. ^ "Gay Anthems: Singing it loud and proud | Celebrity Features | Bollywood Celebs Features". Planetradiocity.com. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  42. ^ a b c d Top 50 gay icons. femin.co.uk. Retrieved January 17, 2008. Archived January 25, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  43. ^ "Song: Fuck You by Lily Allen and Stevie Bee Bishop – Anti-Hate Collab Music Video". Gays Without Borders. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  44. ^ Gaga thanks Gays for Remakes http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1647670/lady-gagas-bad-romance-nabs-best-pop-video.jhtml
  45. ^ Vena, Jocelyn (February 11, 2011). "Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way': The New Gay Anthem?". mtv.com. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  46. ^ McKinley Jr, James C. (June 30, 2013). "The New York Times". nytimes.com. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  47. ^ Mel B is a gay icon on out.com
  48. ^ Mel B gay icon sur gaystarnews.com
  49. ^ Mel B is a gay icon on pridesource.com
  50. ^ Mel B happy to be known as a gay icon on dnaindia.com
  51. ^ a b c d Tamar Braxton gay icon on thegavevoice.com
  52. ^ "8 Reasons Ariana Grande Is the Gay Icon of Her Generation". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  53. ^ icône de la culture gay - Toute une histoire - 23/04/2014 dans toute une histoire youtube.com
  54. ^ Afida Turner icoen gay sur mediasinfos.wordpress.com
  55. ^ "Little Mix's new song 'Secret Love Song, Pt II' is an LGBT anthem".
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